Concrete bucket with rack-and-pinion drum rotating means for dumping



Aug. 9, 1955 B. NOBLE 2,715,039

CONCRETE BUCKET WITH RACK-AND-PINION DRUM ROTATING MEANS FOR DUMPING Filed June 5, 1950 s R R zzvmvmze. h BERT NOBLE UMR ZQ ATTORNEY United States Patent CONCRETE BUCKET WITH RACK-AND-PINION DRUM ROTATING MEANS FOR DUMPING Bert Noble, Winters, Calif.

Application June 5, 1950, Serial No. 166,256

Claims. (Cl. 294-73) This invention relates to a container for transporting a mixed batch of concrete or other material from a loading station to a dumping station.

One problem in transporting batched wet concrete in a container has been to prevent the mixture from stratifying. Stratification causes the large rocks to work their way to the top, while the finer rocks, the sand, and the cement tend to work their way toward the bottom. When the container is emptied through a gate at the bottom end, the Stratified materials have no chance to remix. Unless precautions are taken to remix the cement batch, such stratification will cause and has caused Weakness in the finished structure.

The present invention solves this problem by providing a container which is up-ended to empty it. It is emptied through the same opening through which it is filled. A

closure shield covers the container opening during part of the 180 rotation and prevents the mixture from spilling out until the container is fully up-ended, The container is up-ended quickly so that any larger rocks that may have risen to the upper part of the container during transportation will be carried through about 180 and will retain a position near the opening so they will be spilled first. In this way, the cement and smaller aggregates will be the last to leave the container and they will flow over and among the larger rocks and will tend to give an even distribution. Thus the batch is remixed during dumping and the stratification is replaced by a general distribution.

Where a container full of heavy materials is to be tilted and dumped, it is important to prevent the load of concrete from shifting the center of gravity; otherwise it will tip over the car or support on which it is mounted. Such containers hold several tons of mixed fluid concrete, so if the load can shift the center of gravity a few feet during dumping or while on its way to the dumping station, the turning moment is a substantial force and can easily tip over the whole rig.

The present invention solves this problem by employing a generally cylindrical container mounted so that it moves the 180 from its filling to its dumping position without any appreciable shift of its or the loads center of gravity. Thus, when dumping, the opening is substantially directly beneath the center of gravity of the container.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof. The description is illustrative in compliance with the statute, and is not intended to limit the invention to this illustrative form.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation of the container mounted in a yoke or frame suitable for cable suspension. The container is shown with its mouth at the top, in its transporting position.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device of Fig. 1 shown in its transporting position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the container rotated into its dumping position.

Fig. 4 is a view in section along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The container of this invention may be used where a suspended cable is to carry the mixed concrete from the batching plant to the point of use. This is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. These are sometimes termed concrete buckets.

The container 15 preferably is generally cylindrical and is rotatably supported by the stub shafts 16 journaled in the arms 55 and 56 of a yoke 51, which is suspended on a cable 52. These stub shafts 16 are integral with the end plates of the container. The cylindrical wall 26 has an opening 18 through which materials are introduced and emptied. I preferto extend the end plates 25 at 27 and 28 and to conform the wall 26 thereto so that the mouth 18 is set out farther from the stub shafts 16 than is the general body portion of the container. The side of the mouth at 27 is sloped to facilitate discharge of the mix when the container is in the position shown in Fig. 3, whereas the side of the mouth at 18 preferably is more abrupt to keep the opening 18 as wide as possible and not have gentle sloping surfaces which might tend to impede the flow of the mix.

To prevent spilling of the mix as the container 15 is moved from its loading to its dumping position (about 180), I provide an arcuate closure member 20. The closure member covers the containers open mouth 18 while it is passing from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 3. The closure member 20 is a section of a cylinder and includes the arcuate side wall 21 and two generally arcuate end plates 22. It extends for an arc of about 120 from A to B, and preferably is supported by bars or arms 58, 58 secured to the arms and 56, so it is concentric with the container 15.

There may or may not be a packing between the closure wall 21 and the rim of the mouth 18. A close fit is not necessary in most cases. The rotation of the container 15 is very rapid and if a small amount of the mix is spilled, it will not matter particularly.

The feature of this yoke mounting, now to be de- ''scribed, is the manner in which the container can be has 61 so they move in unison.

rotated its each way without a motor and solely by gravity.

A rack 60 is slidably mounted adjacent each yoke arm 55, 56 and these racks are connected by the cross mem- The teeth on the racks engage the pinion gears 62 secured to the stub shafts 16. Each rack 60 has a projecting portion 63 that slides in a channel 64 secured to an adjacent yoke arm to keep the pinion 62 in mesh with the rack teeth. A pawl or latch 65, mounted on the yoke 51, is positioned where it will engage a lug 65a secured to the container body and thereby hold the body and the connected racks at their top positions. A release lever or cable 66 is provided for lifting the latch 65 out of engagement with the lug to permit the connected racks to drop in relation to the yoke. Any other form of brake may replace tthe pawl or latch arrangement. For example, since the racks are geared to the body shafts 16, the brake or pawl may engage either the container body or the racks themselves. These are details for a mechanics choice.

The racks are weighted so that when the latch or brake is released, they weigh enough to rotate the container 15 to its dumping position. This carries the container and the racks from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6.

When emptied, the container 15 may be rotated back to its filling position by lowering the whole yoke assembly to the ground or onto some other solid base. As the yoke assembly is lowered the lower ends E and F of the racks are. the first parts to touch the ground. As the weight of the yoke and the container comes on the racks they begin to slide relatively to the yoke arms and the pinions 62 rotate the stub shafts 16 and the container 20. If the operator lowers the yoke the distance necessary for the racks to move up into the yoke arms for a full stroke the mouth 18 of the container will be at the top or filling position, and the racks will be held up by the latch 65. Then the operator can lift the whole assembly ofl? the ground and proceed back to the batching plant for another load.

The shape of the container 15 has been illustrated as cylindrical, as this is the preferred form. Other shapes that are approximately symmetrical and will not cause tipping may be used. The number of degrees of rotation of the container may be greater or smaller than illustrated and still retain the essence of the invention.

I claim:

1. A concrete carrier, including in combination a yoke having depending arms and adapted to be suspended and moved on a cableway; a generally cylindrical bucket rotatably supported by said yoke, said bucket having an arcuate open mouth for receiving and dumping concrete, said bucket also having a pinion rigidly secured to the bucket sides along the axis of rotation of, the bucket; a cylindrically arcuate stationary closure plate at one side of said bucket and concentric with said mouth and said bucket for covering said mouth for a substantial portion of its travel while it is being rotated between its top position and its bottom position; rack means movably mounted in relation to said arms and adjacent thereto and extending below the yoke arms and engaging said pinion whereby movement of said rack effects rotation of said bucket; and releasable means for holding said rack and said bucket with said mouth facing upwardly, whereby said bucket may be rotated to bring its mouth from its bottom to its top position by engaging said rack means on a solid base and lowering the yoke so that the rack means will move upwardly in relation to said yoke until said releasable means comes into action.

2. A concrete carrier, including in combination a yoke adapted to be suspended and moved on a cableway; a generally cylindrical bucket rotatably supported by said yoke, said bucket having an offset arcuate open mouth for receiving and dumping concrete; a cylindrically arcuate stationary closure plate at one side of said bucket and concentric with said mouth and said bucket, for covering said mouth during a portion of its rotational path; a pinion means secured. for rotation with said bucket; a rack means engaging said pinion means for rotating said bucket; a brake holding said rack means at the top of its travel when said mouth is at the top; and means for releasing said brake to permit said rack means to slide down of its own weight and rotate said bucket to its dumping position.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said rack means extends below said container and said yoke whereby the operator by lowering said carrier onto a solid base will engage said rack means therewith and rotate said container and bring said rack means back to its braked position.

4. A container for receiving and dumping mixed materials through the same opening, comprising a container body having an open mouth in its side wall; a frame comprising a yoke having arms in which said container body is rotatably supported, so that it can swing about a generally horizontal axis substantially parallel with the plane of said mouth; rack means movably mounted in relation to said arms; drive means between said rack and said container body, whereby movement of said rack effects rotation of said container body; brake means for holding said rack and said body in fixed position with the container mouth facing upwardly, said rack means extending below the yoke arms, whereby said container body may be rotated to bring its mouth from its bottom to its top position by engaging said rack means on a solid base and lowering the yoke so that the rack means will move upwardly in relation to said yoke until said brake means comes into action; and an arcuate shaped stationary closure member secured on said frame concentric with the path taken by said mouth when said container is rotated, said member being spaced radially only slightly from said mouth and extending arcuately only over a portion of the side of said container, whereby it covers said mouth only during that part of the rotation of said container that the mouth is away from a position facing upwardly and until it is in a position facingdownwardly.

5. A container for receiving and dumping mixed materials through the same opening comprising a container body having an open mouth in its side wall ofiset radially a substantial distance from said wall, a frame composed of a yoke having arms in which said container body is rotatably supported, so it can swing about a generally horizontal axis substantially parallel with the plane of said month; an arcuate shaped stationary closure member secured on one side of said frame concentric with the path taken by said mouth when said container is rotated, said member being spaced radially only slightly from said mouth and extending arcuately only over a portion of the side of said container, whereby it covers said month only during that part of the rotation of said container that the mouth is away from a position facing upwardly and until it is in a position facing downwardly; and a pair of toothed gear means adapted for rotating said body about for dumping, from said mouth and for moving back over the same path for preparing said body to receive more material, one of said gear means comprising rack means movably mounted in relation to said arms, the other said gear means comprising drive means between said rack and said container body, whereby movement of said rack effects rotation of said container body; and brake means for holding said rack and body in fixed position with the container mouth facing upwardly, said rack means extending below the yoke arms whereby said container body may be rotated to bring its mouth from its, bottom to its top position by engaging said rack means on a solid base and lowering the yoke so that the rack means will move upwardly in relation to said yoke until said brake means comes into action.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 866,271 Gemmer et a1 Sept. 17, 19.07 1,143,308 OConnor 1 June 15, 1,915 1,180,905 Carter Apr. 25, 1916 1,256,340 Lindsay Feb. 12, 1918 1,429,711 Brown Sept. 19, 1922 2,155,540 Goldberg Apr. 25, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 661,857 France Mar. 12, 1929 

